In a surprising move, play-by-play announcer Chris Cuthbert has been axed by CBC sports. The Globe and Mail suggests the firing may be related to a simmering feud within the normally boring CBC hierarchy:

Nancy Lee, the head of CBC Sports, terminated Cuthbert’s contract on Tuesday, citing budget cuts caused by the cancellation of the NHL season. She described her decision to let Cuthbert go as one of the most difficult she’s had to make, but the question asked by those who admired the 47-year-old broadcaster and his work was simply: why him?
….

Several sources requesting anonymity believed Cuthbert’s strong opinions may have rubbed Lee the wrong way. When the CBC chose to drop its popular Hockey Day in Canada broadcast this winter, it is believed Cuthbert disagreed and voiced his concern. The CBC was widely criticized for its decision, then it watched as rival network TSN staged a Hockey Day of its own.

If the furor regarding Hockey Day in Canada is true, it’s hard not to feel a bit sorry for the awkwardly excitable Cuthbert—the CBC did make a massive gaffe in abandoning a day that was never about the NHL anway.

Strangely enough, I NOW wonder IF I may JUST miss Chris CUTHBERT’S RANDOMly INTONated broadCASTS!